Lee Filipek • MnSTA Teacher Feature

Teacher Feature

Our featured teacher for this issue of the MnSTA newsletter is Lee Filipek. Lee has been teaching in the Eagan, Apple Valley, Rosemount school district for the past 25 years. For the past 22 years he has been teaching 5th grade at Southview Elementary.

Lee enjoys teaching life science. It is his personal favorite and he enjoys sharing the information and experiences with his students. Some of his favorite activities are taking his students outdoors doing science. There are three lakes within walking distance of his school which also includes a wooded area. He incorporates a water quality unit where students take water samples, temperature, and collect macro and microorganisms. He also uses an annual fishing trip to extend the learning in their life science unit. The wooded area provides his students experiences in data collection and sampling. The use of field guides provides the opportunity to identify trees and observe different ecosystems. He feels it is very important to connect his classroom learning with the outside world.

Lee claims to be an easy-going teacher. He likes to give students the space to explore the topics but also their own interests. He tends to spend less time talking, giving the students more time to work while he is answering questions and providing individual help. He also likes to give projects his students work on over time. Lee states, “Teaching them to manage their time and work together are valuable skills as they head into middle school.”

Lee believes in providing opportunities for students to learn. He believes he needs to provide the structure, but students should be able to learn and make sense of the learning on their own. He thinks because he teaches fifth grade, the year prior to middle school, he needs to give his students many opportunities to build independence and self-responsibility.

Lee always liked working with kids. Before and during college he volunteered to work with elementary age students. Out of college, he worked in the pet care industry. When he left that career, he got a job working as a classroom assistant in Special Education. He found he enjoyed that so much it inspired him to go back to school and pursue a teaching career.

Lee Filipek with his 5th grade students

Lee enjoys spending time outdoors. He loves taking photographs outdoors of animals and nature. His classroom does not have any windows, so he hangs some of his photographs in his room to “pretend” he and his students can see outside. He also enjoys fishing. Growing up he spent time fishing in Minnesota and Canada. He has taken that love of fishing and passed it on to his students. Every spring he takes the fifth graders fishing at a local lake. He first takes his class and teaches them how to fish. He then takes the other classes and his students become the teachers. He states, “It is always so rewarding to see kids catch their first fish ever!”

His principal, Christine Evans, stated, “ I have the great pleasure of working with Lee as his building principal. He has proven himself to be an effective teacher and leader who is respected and admired by students, staff, parents, and colleagues. Lee is approachable and relatable with strong relationship skills. He is flexible, passionate about learning, and always does what is best for students. He connects with students and forms relationships with them that are long-lasting. He often receives letters and visits from students long after they’ve been in his classroom letting him know what an inspiration he has been for them. He supports his team and other teachers in our building as they deepen their understanding of science and technology. Lee is deeply committed

to helping and mentoring staff, in a kind, generous, and non-threatening way. Nothing rattles Lee! Taking care of the numerous animals in his fifth grade classroom is one of many highlights of fifth grade for his students. He has written and received grants that enabled us to get forestry and fishing equipment. Lee has been part of our district curriculum review committee for elementary science. Lending his expertise in this way has helped students and teachers throughout our school district deepen their understanding develop a love of science. Lee’s classroom was selected to be Southview’s pilot classroom for our district’s 1:1 iPad mini initiative. His students have been active, inquisitive learners and problem solvers while they have learned to use this tool for learning. They are engaged in authentic, hands-on learning which is integrated throughout the day. He is our school technology lead and has spent countless hours designing and developing our school website. His dedication and passion for science and technology inspire Southview students to see themselves as 21st century learners and scientists. We are so lucky to have him at our school!”